Butchers Hill

I've listened to 3 now, and liked each one better than the previous. Either Tess is maturing, or the author is as a writer. The 2 mysteries are related only in that each has a strong moral component. The characterizations are strong and interesting. The mysteries are good.

Laura Lippman has done better. Tess juggles two unrelated cases and so instead of sinking deep into one story, I just skimmed two. One case is inspired by a real Baltimore case of an old man who shot at a bunch of kids for throwing rocks at his house. In the book, he asks Tess to find the now teenagers. The weak spot was the other case of a woman wanting to find the daughter she gave up for adoption. Of course neither case is as simple as is seems. The happy ending felt insincere to me. Although, a mediocre Laura Lipppman is still worth a credit.

I am new to this series, but am so pleased I found this author and these characters. I especially like her references to literature, history and news - old and current. This was a good mystery, with unanticipated twists and turns. I very much enjoyed the reader's ease at moving from character to character.

No, I don't have enough time to listen to a book twice.

Lippman's other Tess Monahan books are quite good too, this might be my 5th book in the series.

She is very good with all the different voices for the many characters.

Very touching including the facts of the foster care system. However, the ending might be rosier than anything in life.

Sorry to say this. I have listened to a number of Laura Lippman's books, and she is great with Tess Monahan--but not so good when she tries to write fiction with characters where Tess is not part of the story.